Kendo

Kendo, known as the “way of the sword”, is a thrilling and ancient Japanese style of fencing that involves wielding a two-handed bamboo sword. Originally developed from the techniques of the fierce samurai warriors, the art of swordsmanship became a way of fostering discipline, patience, and skill for building character as opportunities for real sword combat dwindled after the unification of Japan in the 1600s. By the 18th century, practitioners had invented protective armour and the shinai, a bamboo sword, which enabled them to engage in realistic sword-fighting without fear of injury. In a kendo match, participants grip the shinai with both hands and aim to land blows on specific scoring areas of their opponent's body, such as the head, wrist, and trunk. A thrust to the throat also counts as a point. The attacker must call out the name of the point they have struck at the same time they land their blow, which is verified by judges. The first combatant to score two points is declared the winner, making kendo a fast-paced and thrilling martial art to watch and practise. In terms of numbers, kendo is the most popular budo discipline in Japan, and is gaining a large following internationally.

Kendo World 4.1

Editorial
By Alex Bennett

The Bokuto
By Alex Bennett

55th All Japan Kendo Championship
By Tyler Rothmar

46th Women’s All Japan Championship
By Tyler Rothmar

East vs West The 53rd Tozai Taiko 2007
By Akatsu Tadashi

The Current Kendo Refereeing System: Room for Improvement
By Uehara Kichio

Ishimatsu Shugyo Trip: A Play On Words
By Michael Ishimatsu-Prime

Japanese Myths & the Significance of the Sword
By Ozawa Hiroshi

Teaching In a Foreign Language
By Michael Ishimatsu-Prime

Talk With Your Kensen: Sekishinkan in Hong Kong
By Akita Toshimichi

Do You Believe in Miracles?
By Christopher Yang

Diplomacy, Budo and Love – Interview with Eli Cohen
By Michael Ishimatsu-Prime

Historical Sightseeing No.2: Unganzenji Temple
By Bruce Flanagan

The China Connection
By Mure Dickie

Bushido in the Past and in the Present: Part II
By John Toshimichi Imai

Breathing in Kendo Kata
By Steven Harwood

DVD Review: All Japan Kendo Championships 1996-1999
By Michael Ishimatsu-Prime

Reidan-jichi part 5: About ‘Ki’
By Oya Minoru
Translated by Alex Bennett

Unlocking Japan – Part 13: The Real SANTA
By Lockie Jackson

The New Zealand Kendo Federation Annual Kendo Seminar
By Alan Stephenson

The Sun and the Sword
By Aurelien Laine

Cutting-Edge Iaido
By Kaneda Kazuhisa
Translated by Maki Miho

2007 Foreign Leaders’ Kendo Summer Seminar
By Martino Ellero

sWords of Wisdom: Listen to the sound of the wind and the water…
By Tobe Shinjuro
Translated by Alex Bennett

Zen Meditation Experience
By Eura Kazunori
Translated by Stephen Robert Nagy

Kendo Inside Out – Part 5: Waza-geiko
By Honda Sotaro

NITO – Part 4: Basic Techniques
By Yamaguchi Masato

Hanshi Says – The late Oka Kenjiro
Translated by Alex Bennett

From Korea – The Internationalisation of Kumdo
By Kato Jun’ichi
Translated by Alex Bennett

Nuts and Bolts: Kaeshi-waza/Uchiotoshi-waza
By Nakano Yasoji
Translated by Alex Bennett

Tenugui, From Rags to Riches
By Michael Ishimatsu-Prime

Kendo that Cultivates People – Part 4: Adolescence, Good Time for Physical and Mental Forging
By Sumi Masatake
Translated by Honda Sotaro

Japanese Swordsmiths: Ohsumi Toshihira and Miyairi Norihiro
By Michael Ishimatsu-Prime

4th World Naginata Championships in Brussels
By Alex Bennett

Naginata Technical Special Shikake-Oji – Part 3: Sanbon-me
By Alex Bennett

Tales of the Samurai – Chapter 5: The Heroism of Torii Katsutaka
By Miyamori A.
Translated by Alex Bennett

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